Reducing plastic in food packaging.

Jonny69 · 10-03-2010, 18:31

One of my big bugbears is plastic food packaging, especially the big bubble packs that meat products come in. I know it's there to protect the products and make them last longer but most are still for presentation primarily and minimal packaging second. I'm lucky enough to have a butcher counter at my local supermarket and get a lot of my meat there. It's usually reduced too, because not a lot of people use it

Anyway, the point in question. I still end up with a load of plastic bags if I use the butcher or deli which go straight in the bin, how do I reduce this to a minimum?

It's simple than I could have ever imagined...

...take my Tuppaware to the supermarket and get them to put it straight in them!

http://myzerowaste.com/2009/05/reduc...and-packaging/

Duh!

Muban · 10-03-2010, 19:00

Good idea. Also for your veg you can use Onya weigh bags

Knipples · 10-03-2010, 19:12

My office is in a kind of business park which has a really good mini recycling centre in the car park. I now take all the plastic from our household there to get recycled. Its amazing how much its cut down on the rubbish we throw away. I take at least two bags a week into work.

Kitten · 10-03-2010, 21:48

I just did a quick shop for some salad and realised when I got home that my half cucumber is wrapped in cellophane AND in a bag? WTF?

Psymonkee · 11-03-2010, 00:36

Bugs the hell out of me at work. I can understand the chicken/beef/pork to a point as the packs do need to be sealed and leak proof (to save me doing too much cleaning

).

Funny story though. Peppers used to be wrapped individually in cellophane. One customer was (rightly) annoyed at the waste going on. moths after whinging about it they started selling them loose.

The next day I served her she came to the till with 3 peppers wrapped in 3 separate plastic bags! (the ones sitting by the peppers, not her own....)

Lana · 14-03-2010, 02:07

thats a really clever idea! we usually bring resusable bags to the shop to carry everything out in, but then again we use carrier bags to throw out our rubbish in.
I know some of the health food stores let you bring your own containers to purchase loose grain and fresh made peanut butter...seems like an easy way to make a difference!

Greenlizard0 · 14-03-2010, 20:29

Apparently reducing the amount of plastic and packaging used is the next "environmental" thing to be done by supermarkets. They're taking a leaf out of how American stores shelve e.g. milk etc.

Jonny69 · 14-03-2010, 20:33

Banning plastic shopping bags won't reduce plastic usage for a lot of us though. I re-use my shopping bags as bin bags (bonus being they are biodegradable) but if I couldn't use those bags I'd have to buy shopping bags and I'd have to buy bin bags as well. The shopping bags only have a finite life and then have to be disposed of. Big bugbear of mine.

However, I think a lot of people don't use shopping bags as binbags so the net is probably a gain.

Kitten · 14-03-2010, 20:42

most of the people I know recycle the plastic bags they get from supermarkets. We use them as binbags and dog pooperscoopy bags, so they get reused. It's pointless cutting down on the plastic bags which to a point people do need, and then covering fruit & veg that doesn't need covering up in plastic. It's all arse about tit if you ask me. For example, I think it's Asda & Tesco who were bragging about making their bags from x amount less plastic...however, you now need 3 to get anything home without it ripping, so it's just bollocks.

Kitten · 14-03-2010, 21:11

In fact, it's that much bollocks I've just complained to Tesco

Go BD, Vigilante a go go!

10-03-2010, 18:31	#1
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Reducing plastic in food packaging. One of my big bugbears is plastic food packaging, especially the big bubble packs that meat products come in. I know it's there to protect the products and make them last longer but most are still for presentation primarily and minimal packaging second. I'm lucky enough to have a butcher counter at my local supermarket and get a lot of my meat there. It's usually reduced too, because not a lot of people use it Anyway, the point in question. I still end up with a load of plastic bags if I use the butcher or deli which go straight in the bin, how do I reduce this to a minimum? It's simple than I could have ever imagined... ...take my Tuppaware to the supermarket and get them to put it straight in them! http://myzerowaste.com/2009/05/reduc...and-packaging/ Duh! __________________

10-03-2010, 19:00	#2
Muban Shoes, Boobs & Corsets Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The fastest town in Scotland Posts: 1,882	Good idea. Also for your veg you can use Onya weigh bags __________________ well, not to put a too fine point to it, he was discovered.. in the lounge

10-03-2010, 21:48	#4
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I just did a quick shop for some salad and realised when I got home that my half cucumber is wrapped in cellophane AND in a bag? WTF? __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

11-03-2010, 00:36	#5
Psymonkee A cat wearing a wet suit Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: St.Andrews Posts: 2,023	Bugs the hell out of me at work. I can understand the chicken/beef/pork to a point as the packs do need to be sealed and leak proof (to save me doing too much cleaning ). Funny story though. Peppers used to be wrapped individually in cellophane. One customer was (rightly) annoyed at the waste going on. moths after whinging about it they started selling them loose. The next day I served her she came to the till with 3 peppers wrapped in 3 separate plastic bags! (the ones sitting by the peppers, not her own....) __________________ Sonisphere FMC Code: 1k949178

14-03-2010, 02:07	#6
Lana Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 242	thats a really clever idea! we usually bring resusable bags to the shop to carry everything out in, but then again we use carrier bags to throw out our rubbish in. I know some of the health food stores let you bring your own containers to purchase loose grain and fresh made peanut butter...seems like an easy way to make a difference! __________________ Ah! Dis is my day of lucky!

14-03-2010, 20:29	#7
Greenlizard0 Vodka Martini Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 717	Apparently reducing the amount of plastic and packaging used is the next "environmental" thing to be done by supermarkets. They're taking a leaf out of how American stores shelve e.g. milk etc. __________________

14-03-2010, 20:33	#8
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Banning plastic shopping bags won't reduce plastic usage for a lot of us though. I re-use my shopping bags as bin bags (bonus being they are biodegradable) but if I couldn't use those bags I'd have to buy shopping bags and I'd have to buy bin bags as well. The shopping bags only have a finite life and then have to be disposed of. Big bugbear of mine. However, I think a lot of people don't use shopping bags as binbags so the net is probably a gain. __________________

14-03-2010, 20:42	#9
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	most of the people I know recycle the plastic bags they get from supermarkets. We use them as binbags and dog pooperscoopy bags, so they get reused. It's pointless cutting down on the plastic bags which to a point people do need, and then covering fruit & veg that doesn't need covering up in plastic. It's all arse about tit if you ask me. For example, I think it's Asda & Tesco who were bragging about making their bags from x amount less plastic...however, you now need 3 to get anything home without it ripping, so it's just bollocks. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

14-03-2010, 21:11	#10
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	In fact, it's that much bollocks I've just complained to Tesco Go BD, Vigilante a go go! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher